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Common cold - Management
What drug treatment should I recommend for people with the common cold?
- Advise the use of an analgesic if the person has á headache, muscle pain, or fever.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen is suitable first-line treatment for most people:
- The choice should be made according to any contraindications that may be present and the person's preference, noting that ibuprofen has a slightly longer duration of action (6 hours compared with 4 hours).
- If the person has severe pain or high fever, consider advising the concomitant use of both drugs. However, this is rarely required with the common cold; if it is necessary, consider the possibility of other diagnoses.
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen are relatively safe drugs when given at the correct dosage, and minimal adverse effects are associated with them.
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both available over the counter at pharmacies or elsewhere.
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